The 20 Best Things to Do After You Retire

After working for decades, suddenly finding yourself retired can be a bit of a challenge. No alarm clock. No commute. No office. Sounds like heaven! But at the same time, it’s easy to become bored, isolated and sedentary — none of which are good for your health. You’re going to need something to do. If you haven’t retired yet, here are some ideas to pin to the fridge. And if you have retired, consider this your bucket list!

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Travel

Travel is a great way to spend your retirement time, especially at the beginning when you're still healthy. You can take your time and see the world. If money is a concern, stick close to home and see all the sights your community has to offer. Even travel to far-flung places can be affordable if you know where the bargains are.

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Go back to school

If you've always wanted to learn more about subjects that you're interested in, your retirement years are perfect for heading back to school. You can finish that degree or audit some courses. Learning how to paint or play the guitar are good ideas too, as you'll fill your days practising.

You may also like: 20 cheap and stylish global retirement spots for Canadians.

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Be a mentor

If you have valuable skills and still like working in your field without all the pressures, think about becoming a mentor. You'll spend time working with young people at the beginning of their careers, and it's a great way of giving back. Not only that, if you charge for your services, it'll help you retire with less money.

Retired? take up a new hobby like photographer

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Get a hobby

Retirement is a great time to take up a new hobby or take an existing one to the next level. There are plenty of options to fit any interest. Think about one where you interact with other people, like cooking classes. Photography is a great hobby, too as you can combine it with travel and go in search of that perfect shot.

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Start/join a book club or film club

Another great way to meet people and expand your knowledge is to start or join a book or film club. Discover new books and films from different genres and discuss! Did you know that reading (a lot) is one of the 20 must-know habits of self-made millionaires?

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Reconnect

If you've got time on your hands, why not use it to reconnect with family, old friends and former co-workers. You can spend hours hanging out and solving the world's problems. If there are a bunch of retirees from your office, why not have monthly get-togethers?

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House swap/sit

If you're on a tight budget and still want to travel extensively or for long periods, take a look at house swapping and house sitting. With house swapping, you move into someone else's house and they move into yours. You can easily find yourself in Scotland or Mexico or Australia for several months.

House sitting is the same idea, except you just look after someone's house and pets. It's a great way to save money when travelling.

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Get a part-time job

Going back to work after you've retired seems counterintuitive, but a part-time job brings several benefits: interacting with people, filling up your schedule and bringing in a little extra dough. Plus, since you're not worried about moving up the ladder, there's much less pressure.

What kind of job should you look for? Here are 20 of the best jobs for retirees.

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Join a gym

Think of the gym as a coffee shop where you work out. It's very social and good for you. You don't have to pump iron, either. Many gyms have special programs for seniors. If there's a walking track, you can join a walking club and stroll several kilometres a day, while chatting away.

If you're new to the gym, there are some unwritten rules you should know.

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Volunteer

Fill your free time by giving back to your community. There are countless volunteer opportunities, even in the smallest community. For example, the library, an animal shelter, a seniors' home, a hospice, your church and the food bank.

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Learn a language

It's never too late to learn a new language, especially if you're planning to travel. A few words in any language goes a long way, but the more you know, the richer your experience will be. A language like Spanish is particularly handy if you're interested in travelling through Mexico, Central and South America. Or, just learn a language for the fun of it and to listen to one of the sexiest accents in the world.

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Write a book

Most of us say we want to write a book, but few of us actually do. If you've got a story inside of you, all it takes is a bit of commitment to get it down on paper (or in a Word doc!). Write a little bit every day and in a few months, your book will be taking shape. If you need motivation, try the NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month — and get 50,000 words written in a month!

Need some financial motivation? Here are three books that made millions and how the writers did it.

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Start a podcast

Do you love taking and wish you had an audience? Podcasting makes that easy. It's basically radio without a transmitter. All you need is an audio recorder — even your phone will do — and some interesting subject matter. You can tell stories or interview people you find fascinating.

Listening to podcasts is a great way to alleviate boredom when flying as well.

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Join a community theatre

There's nothing like getting on a stage to perk up your life. You'll meet a cross-section of really interesting people, learn the finer points of performing and maybe discover a whole new career in the arts.

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Find your spiritual side

Having free time means that you've got the opportunity to explore your spiritual side. Take courses, attend seminars or go on a retreat. Here are 20 of the best health and wellness trips you can take.

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Teach English

Teaching English isn't as hard as you might think and in some cases, you don't even need to be certified, although it definitely helps if you have TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification. You can teach English online, in person locally or while travelling. But make sure you watch out for these common grammar mistakes!

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Garden

Gardening is a good way to keep moving and even grow some fresh food. Join a gardening club to expand your knowledge. If you don't have your own backyard, check to see if your town has community plots. If you'd like to make gardening a year-round activity, think about moving to one of the warmest places to retire in Canada.

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Start a charity

Starting a charity isn't as difficult as it sounds and it's a way of paying society back. You can take on issues locally, like homelessness. Or, look further afield and help relieve poverty in the developing world. Did you know that some counties are more charitable than others? Here are the 20 most generous countries in the world.

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Start a small business

Another way to keep busy is to start a small business. It's also a way to generate extra income. The options are endless: open a small shop, become a handy-person, sell crafts online, tutor or even consult.

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Take up a new activity

After retirement, it is imperative that you keep moving. If you're not very active, then you should take up something like swimming, golf, cycling or yoga. Anything that keeps you active is good for both your mental and physical health. You may even make some new friends.